MOUNT VERNON — Those with an interest in alternative medicine can find like-minded folks meeting on the second Tuesday of each month at 5 p.m. at Sips, 101 S. Main St.
Jody Vance, who owns Our Herbal Nook in Mount Liberty, Bev Actis and Gail Lyall came up with the idea of a casual evening get-together to exchange ideas and listen to speakers present information.
“It was Jody’s idea to do this,” said Lyall. “She’s so committed to people getting not only information, but good information. All three of us are interested in alternative health.”
“I’m not in this for the publicity,” said Vance. “I’m in it to get the word out about how people can take better care of their bodies by using natural health and complementary health methods.”
Lyall said the group hopes to hear presentations from “representatives from different modalities,” such as natural dentistry, reflexology, acupuncture, Reiki, massage, tai chi and more.
“We’re hoping people will come to Sips for a cup of coffee and talk about grandma’s home remedies,” said Vance. “If people can learn this information, it will help them.”
“I was convinced there were so many things that were not available to us through the medical system,” said Actis. “This group isn’t just about alternative medicine. It’s also about finding natural options. Traditional health options are good in their own right but they are limited. There are many more alternatives available to us.”
Actis said she raised her children in a healthy home.
“I wanted to give them a good basis for health as they grew up. I had a garden, we ate very well, I made food from scratch. They grew up very healthy, but some of them had health problems as they got older,” she said.
Her son experienced kidney failure at age 23, she explained.
“In desperation, I started exploring everything I could because the only option they gave us was steroids,” she said. “We went on an intensive nutrition and exercise program and, using the power of belief, it is working. He is as normal as anyone could be with this kind of disability.
“I felt this [group] would be a good opportunity to share this information. I want to share what I’ve learned with people. If people had more information, they would know they have more options than traditional medicine.”
A recent speaker was Daniel Totman, a licensed massage therapist who has worked with the Kenyon College swim team for 14 years, and who also works with the Columbus Blue Jackets hockey team and The Ohio State University football team. He told the group about his work in injury prevention using a method of myoskeletal alignment called active isolated stretching.
“It’s more than stretching, though,” Totman explained. “People, even athletes, don’t know how to stretch. This technique is movement, getting the brain involved. It’s not just a massage. It gets oxygen, blood and nutrients to the muscles. The patients are doing the work, and sessions can last two to three hours.”
Totman is passionate about his work, but humble about his achievements.
“I am very blessed,” he said. “We’ve given the healing power back to the person. I’m not a healer, but a facilitator.”
The free presentations are open to the community.
